In the quest to map the brain, many scientists have attempted the incredibly daunting task of recording the activity of each neuron. Gero Miesenboeck works backward — manipulating specific neurons to figure out exactly what they do, through a series of stunning experiments that reengineer the way fruit flies percieve light.

Using light and a little genetic engineering — optogenetics — Gero Miesenboeck has developed a way to control how living nerve cells work, and advanced understanding of how the brain controls behavior.
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